28 Jul, 2006

Hello again, everybody.

This week has been a week of tests - following the "pre-tests" of about 4 weeks ago (which were surely tests in themselves??), we have now done the mid-term tests. Too much testing for these little 'uns! It's quite bizarre to me, having never had any significant exams before the age of 15/16.
These mid-terms had to be worth 30 marks, the pre-tests were 20, and there are more pre-tests in 5 weeks: "pre" the END-OF-SEMESTER tests (50 marks). Then the semester 1 final tests will be in September. Then the same next term: pre-test/mid-term/pre-test/final test. They are held in the same regard as real exams would be - and the parents are SO serious about it, it's not so good for the kids at all. they are under all this pressure - especially 1 boy in Year 1, whose name is JJ. He is 6 years old. He is being groomed to be a top swimmer, so that's one area he's pushed to perform in. His dad takes him swimming almost every night. Then on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 till 6 he has an hour's extra class with either me or Rob......and often goes swimming after that. On Monday I gave his class their tests, and that evening, his dad was asking me how JJ had done in his exam. i had actually marked them, but JJ hadn't finished his, so I was planning to give the ones who hadn't finished an extra hour to complete them. Unbeknownst to JJ's dad, though. I was NOT telling him that JJ hadn't finished it! i bluffed and said that I hadn't marked them. i didn't want MORE pressure on the little lad! And I didn't tell you that the night before the exam, his dad actually rang up to ask what was going to be on the test! (He has Rob's phone number.) This boy is six years old, but he doesn't get much time to be a 6-year-old boy. Plus he gets rather ostracised at school and is always getting complained at. Poor JJ.

So, yes, the week has been rather taken up with tests. Monday and Tuesday we gave our English Program ones, and Wednesday, yesterday and today have been the Thai-language ones. So we've had no lessons for the past 3 days - quite nice and relaxing!

2 friends are coming over tonight, so i'm cooking up a storm for the 4 of us.